a-step-by-step-protocol-for-subretinal-surgery-in-rabbits

A Step by Step Protocol for Subretinal Surgery in Rabbits

Age related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa, and other RPE related diseases are the most common causes for irreversible loss of vision in ...

To study vitreous cavity humidity during fluid-air exchange in pars plana vitrectomy.

Intraocular humidity immediately after fluid-air exchange in pars plana vitrectomy.

To develop a surgical technique for the subretinal implantation of cell carriers suitable for the transplantation of cultured retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in a preclinical animal model.

Subretinal delivery of ultrathin rigid-elastic cell carriers using a metallic shooter instrument and biodegradable hydrogel encapsulation.

A novel instrument for dye injection and aspiration aiding the removal of internal limiting membranes and epiretinal membranes.

Transplantation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is being developed as a cell-replacement therapy for age-related macular degeneration. Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived RPE are currently translating toward clinic. We introduce the adult human RPE stem cell (hRPESC) as an alternative RPE source. Polarized monolayers of adult hRPESC-derived RPE grown on polyester (PET) membranes had near-native characteristics. Trephined pieces of RPE monolayers on PET were transplanted subretinally in the rabbit, a large-eyed animal model. After 4 days, retinal edema was observed above the implant, detected by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and fundoscopy. At 1 week, retinal atrophy overlying the fetal or adult transplant was observed, remaining stable thereafter. Histology obtained 4 weeks after implantation confirmed a continuous polarized human RPE monolayer on PET. Taken together, the xeno-RPE survived with retained characteristics in the subretinal space. These experiments support that adult hRPESC-derived RPE are a potential source for transplantation therapies.

Human RPE stem cells grown into polarized RPE monolayers on a polyester matrix are maintained after grafting into rabbit subretinal space.

We developed a surgical method for localized and atraumatic removal of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with a novel instrument.

Article	Year
Intraocular humidity immediately after fluid-air exchange in pars plana vitrectomy. Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv für klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie\| PubMed ID: 16133014	2006
Subretinal delivery of ultrathin rigid-elastic cell carriers using a metallic shooter instrument and biodegradable hydrogel encapsulation. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science\| PubMed ID: 22167099	2012
A novel instrument for dye injection and aspiration aiding the removal of internal limiting membranes and epiretinal membranes. Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.)\| PubMed ID: 24113273	2013
Human RPE stem cells grown into polarized RPE monolayers on a polyester matrix are maintained after grafting into rabbit subretinal space. Stem cell reports\| PubMed ID: 24511471	2014
Localized RPE Removal with a Novel Instrument Aided by Viscoelastics in Rabbits. Translational vision science & technology\| PubMed ID: 27294010	2016

Ralf Brinken

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